December 21st is the day of the shutdown. The US government has existed on a series of continuing resolutions (CR's) for several years, each funding the government for a precise and limited period. The present one is up on December 21st. Trump has said he will veto any CR that doesn't have $5-billion to fund the beginning of his silly wall, which he promised that Mexico would pay for.

That means that only "essential services" will get paid to go to work, the postal service included. The remaining federal employees will either remain home, or go to work and accrue IOU's.

Now let's see...get out of Syria; get out of Afghanistan; Defense Department loses its leader; leave the useful idiot in charge; go home and sleep in. Is that not Putin's dream for America?

Let's hope the Canadians can mobilize and get down here to defend the place, before the Russians land.

Trump & company do seem determined to bring on the 'Disunited States of Aymerika', don't they ?!?

Halt funding to federal services;Put contractors in charge of the military;Leave Canada to defend the northern border, Mexico the south;Rely on the allies in Iraq and Afghanistan (e.g.Britain, Australia, NZ, France, Poland, Canada..) to continue to train up the local military and police forces;Build more walls, fences and barriers around Aymerika..

_________________It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.Our life is frittered away by details. Simplify, simplify.The mass of men lead lives of quite desperation.Henry David Thoreau

No wonder Trump wants to close the Mexican Border.Apparently Grey Aliens are infesting the area and have fought a bloody battle with the Delta Forces.Of course, they could be simply be refugees wearing masks.

Back to the shut-down. Trump has just lowered his demand from $5-billion to $2.5-billion. In other words, he is bidding against himself!

I thought this guy was supposed to be a good negotiator. What's in it for the Democrats? He sweetens the deal--supposedly--by demanding less?? Doesn’t he get it? The question isn't how much wall, but what wall? Trump is trying to redefine the question, and the Democrats are having none of it.

One bargains by offering something coveted by the other in return, not by demanding less when you have no leverage in the first place. It's called a transaction--'trans' as in cross-bargaining and attempting some sort of exchange. Trump is essentially bargaining with himself. The Dems have already told him they want no wall; and he redefines that to mean they want half-a-wall. Ridiculous! He is not even on the same page.

The public is watching Trump and his government collapse. It's a net-net loss to him. Trump doesn't even understand the parameters of the deal, let alone the tactics of negotiation. No wonder Trump fell into bankruptcy. No wonder he had to go begging to the Russians and Saudis. No wonder he is now their useful idiot. The guy has no bargaining skills!